All-out war against hairy caterpillar |15 July 2015

It’s all-out war against the hairy caterpillar now that those in the forefront of this fight are much better equipped to combat this pest.

With the recent arrival of much needed equipment and chemicals to fight the hairy caterpillar, a comprehensive plan is being designed to eradicate this invasive pest.

Officials from the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) and the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley met on Monday to discuss the situation and the plan to eradicate the caterpillar.

“Our capacity in the beginning was limited in terms of the equipment and the chemicals that we needed, but now all the equipment has come in, all the chemical products have arrived since Friday night, and now we are planning how we are going to work,” said Paul Labaleine, the DRDM director general.

He said the operation to combat the caterpillar will be done in two phases – a research phase and the fogging phase, which will include the use of BP chemicals to eradicate the pest.

During Monday’s meeting it was agreed that full-time workers were needed for the first phase of the project and that most of the operations will be done at night.

The team who will be involved in the first phase of the exercise will carry out research on the feeding habits of the caterpillar, their lifespan as well as their weakest points.

Another team will be trained on how to use the equipment and how to carry out the fogging process which will lead to the eradication of the caterpillar.
The eradication process will be carried out both on Mahé and Praslin, where Vallée de Mai is being targeted.

Technicians from South Africa are expected today to train the locals on the use of the equipment and they will also assist in the operation.

It has been decided that the operation should go on for up to two months, after which the use of chemicals will be stopped so as not to cause any adverse effect on the environment.
Based on what the researchers will discover, other alternatives such as traps and light might substitute the use of chemicals.

The operation is getting assistance from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) while some laboratories are offering technical help.
 Air Seychelles has already offered its support by sponsoring the air freighting of the equipment and chemicals to be used in the operation.

Meanwhile, members of the public are being urged to also cooperate and give their support through sanitation and surveillance.